An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800 eBook

The real names of the last chiefs of this line, are
said to have been respectively Ethur, Cethur, and
Fethur. The first was called MacCuill, because
he worshipped the hazel-tree, and, more probably,
because he was devoted to some branch of literature
which it symbolized; the second MacCeacht, because
he worshipped the plough, i.e., was devoted to
agriculture; and the third obtained his appellation
of MacGriene because he worshipped the sun.

It appears from a very curious and ancient tract,
written in the shape of a dialogue between St. Patrick
and Caoilte MacRonain, that there were many places
in Ireland where the Tuatha De Dananns were then supposed
to live as sprites and fairies, with corporeal and
material forms, but endued with immortality.
The inference naturally to be drawn from these stories
is, that the Tuatha De Dananns lingered in the country
for many centuries after their subjugation by the
Gaedhils, and that they lived in retired situations,
where they practised abstruse arts, from which they
obtained the reputation of being magicians.

The Tuatha De Dananns are also said to have brought
the famous. Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny, to
Ireland. It is said by some authorities that
this stone was carried to Scotland when an Irish colony
invaded North Britain, and that it was eventually
brought to England by Edward I., in the year 1300,
and deposited in Westminster Abbey. It is supposed
to be identical with the large block of stone which
may be seen there under the coronation chair.
Dr. Petrie, however, controverts this statement, and
believes it to be the present pillar stone over the
Croppies’ Grave in one of the raths of Tara.

A Danann prince, called Oghma, is said to have invented
the occult form of writing called the Ogham Craove,
which, like the round towers has proved so fertile
a source of doubt and discussion to our antiquaries.

The Milesians, however, did not obtain a colonization
in Ireland without some difficulty. According
to the ancient accounts, they landed at the mouth
of the river Slainge, or Slaney, in the present county
of Wexford, unperceived by the Tuatha De Dananns.
From thence they marched to Tara, the seat of government,
and summoned the three kings to surrender. A
curious legend is told of this summons and its results,
which is probably true in the more important details.
The Tuatha De Danann princes complained that they
had been taken by surprise, and proposed to the invaders
to re-embark, and to go out upon the sea “the
distance of nine waves” stating that the country
should be surrendered to them if they could then effect
a landing by force. The Milesian chiefs assented;
but when the original inhabitants found them fairly
launched at sea, they raised a tempest by magical
incantations, which entirely dispersed the fleet.
One part of it was driven along the east coast of Erinn,
to the north, under the command of Eremon, the youngest
of the Milesian brothers; the remainder, under the
command of Donn, the elder brother, was driven to
the south-west of the island.